The third largest city in Wales, Newport is located 12 miles northeast of Cardiff and is part of the Cardiff-Newport Metropolitan area. The unitary authority of Newport also includes some surrounding rural areas, but it is largely an urban area with important manufacturing and engineering facilities. A medieval port with a Norman castle, Newport is an area rich in history as well as being a diverse city with many modern cultural amenities, including the Riverfront Arts Centre. The area is very well connected by road, rail, and bus, and a footbridge for cyclists and pedestrians links the east and west banks of the river. A recent edition of the Rough Guide to Wales described Newport as a ‘lively and gritty city’.